Hot line connector



May 13, 1958 s. s. HOULTON HOT LINE CONNECTOR Filed March 16, 1955 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent HOT LINE CONNECTOR Samuel S. Houlton, Kensington, Md.

Application March 16, 1955, Serial No. 494,77 2 3 Claims. (Cl. 339-109) This invention relates to improvements in hot line connectors for electrical circuits.

In recent years, there has been a marked shift to the use of aluminum wire as a substitute for copper wire in the field of transmitting electrical energy. Such change was brought about by the scarcity of copper and by other discoveries that made the utilization of aluminum wire feasible.

However, the use of aluminum wire posed new problems to the industry. Foremost among such problems was the fact that aluminum wire is easily marred and such marring reduced the eificiency and general utility of the wire as a conductor. For example, when connecting a take-off line to a hot wire, the linemen frequently tighten the conventional connectors too severely to the extent of marring the wire and thus weakening it at the point of attachment. This occurs because conventional connectors are not provided with a safety device to prevent excessive tightening subsequent to the obtaining of the proper connecting pressure. Most of such overtightening is brought about by the fact that such connectors are manipulated on the end of a twenty to thirty foot hot line stick which makes it impossible to detect properly the correct point of adjustment.

Another problem faced is that by reason of constant vibration, caused by wind and other phenomena, take-01f connectors have a tendency to become loosened, causing faulty service at the take-oif point.

Therefore, one of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a connector with means to prevent overtightening of the clamping members, thus eliminating possible damage to the cable.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hot line connector which will not accidentally loosen, although subjected to constant vibratory motion.

A further object of this invention is to provide a hot line connector which is easy to connect with the line and which cannot he accidentally disconnected.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device of the type indicated that is non-complex in construction, economical to manufacture and assemble, and durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following specification, when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a hot line connector as applied to a hot line.

Figure 2 is an edge elevational view, partly in crosssection, of the device in its extended position.

Figure 3 is a detailed fragmentary cross-sectional view of the housing showing the relation of the various parts when the connector is in a retracted position.

Figure 4 is a detailed fragmentary cross-sectional view of the housing showing the relation of the parts when the connector is in an extended position.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the first step in attaching the connector to a hot wire.

Patented May 13, 1958 "ice Figure 6 is a perspective view of the cradle.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 10 indicates, generally, a hot line connector constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention and is seen to comprise an elongated substantially hollow cylindrical housing 12 having a pair of opposed open and closed ends 11 and 13, respectively, and an opening 14 in the side thereof adjacent its lower end. The closed end 13 of the housing is provided with a centrally positioned axially extending aperture 15 therethrough and has an integrally formed annular flange 16 extending over the sides of the housing 12. The open end 13 of the housing is provided with internal threads 17 and is adapted to receive an externally threaded male plug 19 having a centrally positioned axially extending aperture 21 therethrough.

An elongated stem 18 is disposed within the housing 12 and is mounted for reciprocation and rotation within the apertures 15 and 21. The stem 18, projects outwardly of the housing 12 at each end thereof and is provided, at its lower end, with an enlarged eye 20 for hooking engagement with one the hooked end of a conventional hot line stick. The stem 18 terminates in an upper end 22 above the housing 12. Intermediate the ends 20 and 22 of the stem 18 and formed integrally therewith is a worm gear 24 which fits snugly within the housing 12 and is adapted to rotate and reciprocate with the stem 18. A notch 26 is provided in the last full convolution of the worm gear 24 adjacent the lower end thereof.

A coil spring 28 is disposed within the housing 12 and is initially threaded on the worm gear 24. The lower end of the spring 28 is in abutting relation with the plug 19 and has its extreme end 30 extended through the opening 14 in the housing 12 and is anchored therein by conventional means to prevent the spring 28 from moving axially. The uppermost convolution 32 of the spring 28 terminates in a detent 34 which cooperates with the notch 26, to serve a function to be described.

An elongated horizontally disposed cradle 36 having a substantially U-shaped configuration is formed with a longitudinally extending tongue 38, and an integrally formed centrally positioned depending tubular collar 40 having a substantially cylindrical configuration. The

'collar 40 is adapted to be loosely seated on the exposed upper end 22 of the stem 18 to detachably and rotatably mount the cradle 36 thereon.

The tongue 38 is constructed with a pair of marginally positioned spaced apertures 42 adjacent its outer end, the apertures 42 being adapted to receive therethrough a hook-shaped clamping member 44 having an externally threaded cylindrical shank 46 on which is mounted a washer 4% and a lock nut 50, the hook 44 and associated elements serving as connector means for the take-off line 66 as will become more evident as this specification proceeds.

A pair of L-shaped clamping members 52 are provided having confronting arcuate ofisets 54 formed in the foot portions 56 thereof and the offset portions 54 encase the upper end of the housing 12. The foot portions 56 are overlapped and are releasably secured together by the bolts 58 and nuts 60, with the leg portions 62 thereof remotely positioned relative to each other. The leg portions 62 are bent laterally away from their respective foot portions 56 in opposite directions with respect to each other and terminate at their upper extremities in spaced aligned hook-shaped clamping jaws 64 which project laterally away from their associated legs in opposite directions with respect to each other.

In operation, one end of the take-off Wire 66 is threaded between the tongue 38 and the hook-shaped clamping member 44 in which position the locking nut 50 is tightened to secure the take-ofi wire to the tongue.

The operatorthen-insertsthe eye 20' of. the-stem. 18 in a conventional hot line stick and rotates the cradle 36 to a right angular position with respect to the leg portions ofthe hook shaped clamping jaws 6'4t The hotlinestickwith the connector so-positioned z is elevated and guided so that the cradle 36'islong'itudinally aligned with and cradles the'underside of the overhead hot wire 68, the jaws. 64 now being positioned above and on each side of the wire 68. The hot linestick is then rotated clockwise to effect engagement oh the leg' portions 62 of the clamping jaws 64 on opposite sides of the overhead line 63, the cradle- 36 freely rotating on the upper and oh the stem: 18 during this operation,- so. that the longitudinal axis of the cradle 36 extends in: the same direction as that of the hook-shaped clamping jaws 64. After the cradle 36- and the hook-shaped clamping jaws 64 are so positioned; the hot line stick isrotated further, forcing the. worm gear 24 to advance in an upward direction along the convolutionsof the spring 28 to effect closure: movements between the jaws 64"- andcradle 36 about the hot wire 68.

The closure movement achieved by the cooperation of the spring 28 andthe worm gear 24 is limited by the length and tension of the spring 28'. When the lowermost? convolution of the Worm gear 24" travels over the uppermost convolution of the spring 28, its upward movement. is, at an end, and further rotation of the stem 18 will not impart. a greater force to or further the closure movement ofthe cradle 36. Instead, such further rotation of the stem 18 will result only in harmless rotation of. the Worm gear 24 relative to the spring 28, In this manner, the overhead wire 68 is protected from the effects. of: overtightening of the opposed clamping jaws 64 and cradle 36. It will, of course, be understood that the'desircd tensioning pressure of the spring 28 is predetermined, and the spring-28 constructed accordingly;

With the cradle 36 in its fully extended position, the detent 34 is adapted to engage within and to cooperate with the notch 26- to prevent the wormgear 24 from accidentally rethreading with the convolutions of the spring 28 andv backing down thereon by reason of vibration or other phenomena acting on the overhead wire 68:

The collar 40 on the cradle 36 is loosely engaged on and' with. the upper end of the stem 18 to enable the user to freely interchange various size cradles 36' which are adapted to accommodate power lines 68 having varying diameters.

If desired,. the. clamping. member. 4.4. could. be. inserted in the apertures 42 from below the tongue 38, and detent or other means could be employed to releasably secure the cradle 36 to the upper end 22 of the stem 18.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention in detail, it will be understood that the same is offered merely by way, of example, and that the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hot line connector comprising a tubular cylindrical housing,- a wall closing one endv ofi' said}. housing and having an axial. bore extending therethrough, a pair of L-shaped members encompassing said housing, means detachably securing said members to said housing, an arm on each of said L-shaped members extending in diverging relation therefrom, a reverted hook formed 0111 the terminal of each: of said armsin: opposed. relation, a closure wall detachably secured in the. end& of said tubular housing opposite said. first named wall, said closure wall; having a boretherein axially alig'ned with the bore in saidifirst wall',.a stemsprojecting through saidbores and adapted to move therein,. a worm: gear onsaid: stem in said housing. a: coil spring. resting on said: closure wall and having one end thereof secured to said. housing, said? coil. spring; engaging; the convolutionsof said worm gear whereby rotation. ofi said. worm gear will move said wormtgear'and said stem axially insaidrhousing, with. said stem resiliently carriedby said. housing, a hot line engaging cradle journalled on: the upper end of said stem and adapted'to engage one side of a: hot line having its opposite side engaged by said hooks and means on said stemzfon connectingrsaid; stem to a. sourceof rotary power.

2; A device aszclaimed: in claim 1 wherein means are providcdron. saidspring; adapted to, cooperate with means on. said screw for restraining. said. screw. from. loosening when in a fully tightened: position;

3. A device as claimed in claim 2' wherein means are provided on saidcradle for clamping; a connector wire thereto;.

References Cited in the fileofi this patent UNI-TED- STATES PATENTS 2,009,289 Caird July 23, 1935 2,206,653 Yonkers July 2', 1940 2,462,247 Wright Feb. 22', 1949 

